Scorpions play Morocco, CAR in March friendlies

As
part of preparations for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, the Gambia
National Men’s Football Team has lined up two friendly matches this month with
Morocco and the Central African Republic.

The
matches, to be played in Morocco, will see the Scorpions square off against the
hosts on March 23 before they wind up their one-week camp in the North African
country with another game against the CAR on March 27.

The
Gambian team, to be made up of both foreign and local-based players, is
expected to arrive in Morocco on March 21 where they will stay until the 28th
of the month. The technical team comprises head coach Sang Ndong and his
assistants Omar K. Sise and Matarr Mboge.

“The
games are confirmed; we will play the CHAN team of Morocco and the CAR [senior
national team]. We expect to receive some players from the old squad and the
new players we have invited to join us. So far the response that we’ve got is
positive and the players are willing to come and join us,” Sang Ndong said.

“We
are still convincing some new players playing in England, Germany, France,
Belgium and Italy to come and join us. We cannot consider the players that went
to Europe through the ‘Backway’ because of their refugee status, until their
status changes.”

Sang’s
charges will play away to Benin in the opening game of the Afcon qualifiers in
June this year, after which there will be no qualifier until March 2018 when
the Scorpions host Algeria in Banjul, thus making this month’s test game very
critical in preparations for the campaign.

“This
window in March is our only opportunity to get to see these players in action
before June. We have players playing in all the positions all over Europe and
even though some of them are young, we want to get to see them in action.”